There was no electricity in the old hospital, yet sunlight, streaming through broken window panes, cast a pale glow over the empty rooms. The building had been condemned, and bold signs ineffectively warned trespassers away. College kids arrived at night, leaving beer bottles and cigarettes in their wake. Daytime brought younger teens who played hide-and-seek […]
“There’s nothing in a country mile,” Jack told Evelyn while they shared a bistro table at a tiny sidewalk cafe. The streets were bumper to bumper and pedestrians streamed past in a blur of summer dresses and lightweight suits. “Where did that come from?” Evelyn asked, as she casually lifted her glass of white wine.
Evocative imagery and keen insights may impress, but they are merely the icing on a well-written review. Its substance comes from understanding who will be reading your review and why. Generally, your readers are looking to you to help them make a decision. They want to know whether it’s worthwhile to read a book, go
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Note: I originally wrote this piece years ago for a contest writing site. I didn’t pick the title but had an easy time coming up with examples of terrible lessons in Disney movies. Particularly in the classics. I reshared it on my blog years ago and have kept it around because I still think it’s
A.A. Milne was onto something when he gave Winnie the Pooh his “thotful spot.” A quiet place to think, think, think. But you don’t have to visit the Hundred Acre Woods to find your best ideas. You may not even need a quiet place. For writers, thinking places are personal finds. They may be indoors
